Human milk lactoferrin variation in relation to maternal inflammation and iron deficiency in northern Kenya.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Milk lactoferrin is a multi-functional, iron-binding glycoprotein with immunomodulatory effects, protecting infants against infectious diseases.

Aims

This study explored how maternal inflammation/infection and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) might influence human milk lactoferrin. Lactoferrin might be elevated with maternal inflammation resulting from infectious disease processes. Conversely, lactoferrin might decrease with IDA, corresponding to scarce maternal iron for transfer in milk. In these two hypothesized scenarios, the degree of lactoferrin elevation or decrease might vary with infant vulnerability to infectious diseases or malnutrition. Alternatively, lactoferrin might be unassociated with inflammation/infection or IDA if mothers could buffer it against the

SUBMITTER: Fujita M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10078565 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature